Curtain stretcher



C. G. CARLSON CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Aug. 4, 1959 Patented Oct. 8, 1940 I l UNITED Vsizilns' `PfrENr CURTAIN STRETCHER Clarence GQC'ai'lson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Curtain Stretcher Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 4, 1939, Serial No. 288,396 3 claims. (o1. 287-51) My present invention is concerned with a `different sizes, I provide connecting fittings for stretching frame having a special utility for supthe bottom and adjusting bars which permit :of porting damp curtains or other fabrics which are their being shifted toward and from the top and to be dried. More particularly, the present imend bars, respectively. In the case of opposite '5 povements are directed to a tting which proends of the bottom bar and the top end of the 5 vides an adjustable detachable .connection beadjusting bar, no special problem is presented, tween two of the bars of the stretching frameconsequently the three ttings at such points desirably the adjusting bar thereof and the botwhich are all alike, may be of simple character. tom bar. Y As shown in connection with the adjusting bar,

The fitting hereinafter described, is advantaeach such fitting comprises a plate 5 axed to geous in that it is simple, strong, inexpensive, the rear face of the bar soas to extendthereand adjustable as to the connection between two beyond and then laterally Aforward as at E to proof its frame bars whereby either may be shifted vide a head through which is an aperturedopenendwise or laterally with respect to the other, ing to receive a bolt l which is in screw-threaded i5 without requiring the presence of any slot for engagement with a nut 8 fixedly secured to the 15 the slidable reception of associated parts. Such underside of the head. At the lower end of the a tting is particularly advantageous when emnut is rotatably and inseparably aiiixed a clip ployed to connect the adjusting bar of the frame 9 having at its forward edge a dependingV lip with the bottom bar thereof, since in practice, which extends slightly over the face of the ad- 0 it is often necessary to adjust one b-ar with .rejusting bar, the clip being advanced or retracted 20 spect to the other. By the means herein disby the bolt which at its upper end is equipped closed the application to the frame of the fitwith a manual operating head It. The clip is ting in question, and alsothe operation thereof, slidingly connected to the plate 5 by means-(not may be accomplished with a minimum of effort. shown) so that when Vengaged with the top bar,`

A curtain stretching frame equipped with the it will press this bar tightly against the end 'of ,25r adjusting tting of this invention is illustrated the adjusting bar to which the plate is affixed. in the accompanying drawing in the manner folvBy some such fitting asthis I am enabled to de.-

lowing: tachably and adjustably connect the adjusting Figure 1 is a sideelevationof the stretching bar to the top bar. Similar ttings which con@ frame in its entirety; nect the bottom bar` to the two end bars ,pro- 30 Fig. 2 is an enlargedjsection in detail, taken vide for detachable andadjustable connections on line 2-2 of Fig. l; at such points. In consequence, the frame may Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section, taken be extended vertically by shifting the bottom bar on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and toward or from the top bar, and the adjusting y Fig, 4 is a, View in perspective 0f the adjustbar may be shifted sidewise so as to appro-ach 35 ing ttng per se or recede from the left end bar whereby to ac- V The frame herein illustrated is adapted for the 00111111011250 fabrCS 0f different SZBS. support of damp curtains or other fabrics which A ttllg GmbOdYing Certain I1OV1 features 0f it is desired to dry while in a stretched condition. 00115111110151011, 91S hereinafter Claimed, iS used t0 40 It comprises a horizontal top bar 'I joined at 001111001? the bracing bal' and 21150 the adjusting 40 opposite ends to vertical left and right end bars bar to the bottom bar. As these ttings are sub- L and R, respectively, which latter are interconstantially alike, I will now proceed to a descripnected detachably by a horizontal bottom bar tion of but one-the fitting which connects the B, thereby providing a rectangular structure, al1 adjusting bar to the bottom bar.

as is common practice at the present time. In A mounting M in the form of a substantially 45 addition, the frame may comprise a vertical cenrectangular collar, either closed or slightly open tral bracing bar C detachably interconnecting as shown in Fig. 2, is slidingly fitted upon the the top and bottom bars, and to one side thereadjusting bar. This collar, which is desirably of a vertical adjusting bar A. The front faces bent from a metal strap, comprises a iront plate of the four outside bars are desirably concavely I6 overlying the front face of the adjusting bar A50 rabbeted adjacent their inner edges where pins in spaced relation thereto (see Fig. 2) where I n are provided all as is common practice at the have provided an opening through which is represent time. ceived one end of a threaded bolt i'i whose head So that the frame may be extended either ver- I8 lies against the underside of the front plate. f

tically or horizontally, to accommodate fabrics of This bolt, which is non-rotatably secured to the [55 mounting, extends forwardly through the aperture I9 in a clamp P having a body 20 which is rested against the forward face of the bottom bar over which it is extended transversely (see Fig. 3). This clamp is provided at its opposite end with an offset foot 2| bearing against the adjusting bar. A power device, such as a wing nut 22, in screw-threaded relation with the bolt, may be operated to advance the clamp with pressure against the front face of the bottom bar while exerting upon the mounting a pulling force which produces a grip thereof against the rear face of the adjusting bar. The clamp adjacent its foot is loosely extended through a slot 23 in the monuting so as to remain assembled therewith when pressure is released, the connection permitting relative movement between theclamp and mounting, as required, when the nut is tightened upon the bolt to frictionally hold the two bars against movement.

By the use of a fitting as just described, it is possible to secure the adjusting bar to the bottom bar without requiring any slot in either for the `reception of connecting parts, while permitting sliding of the adjusting bar toward or from either of the end bars and adjustment of the bottom bar toward or from the top bar. The concave vrabbet of the bottom bar is not overlapped by the clamp so that attachment to the pins of the fabric to be maintained in a stretched condition is not interfered with.

The generally similar clamp employed for connecting the center brace bar with the bottom bar permits of the latter being adjusted toward or from the top bar, all without the requirement of any slot in either bar for the functioning of the connecting tting. If desired, a stop 24, such as a screw, may be aiixed to both the brace bar and adjusting bar at a point near its lower end sov as to prevent the fitting, when disconnected from the bottom bar, from sliding off of the bar to which it is slidingly connected.

I claim: v

1. In a curtain stretcher wherein a plurality of bars are detachably interconnected to provide a frame with two of the bars crossing each other in contiguous engaging relation, a fitting adjustably connecting thetwo contiguous bars at their point of crossing, the fitting comprising a mounting through which one bar is slidably extended and formed with a slot therethrough mounting for the clamp, said means ing the .clamp in a manner whereby relative in spaced relation to one bar face which engages the other bar, an o'set clamp extended through the collar slot and formed with a foot adapted to bear against the bar face opposite the slot and with a body adapted to bear against the other bar upon a face thereof which lies farthest from the mounting, and screw means interconnecting the mounting and clamp adapted in one Vposition of adjustment toadvance the clamp body and clamp foot with pressure against the two bars with which they respectively engage while drawing the mounting, together with the bar extended therethrough, toward the other bar whereby to afford an adjustable frictional connection be tween the two bars at their point of intersection.

2. In a curtain stretching frame including two crossingbars in contiguous engaging relation, a fitting adjustably connecting the two contiguous bars at their point of crossing comprising a clamp bearing against a face of one bar and offset to .present a portion of itself against the corresponding face of the other bar, means slidably affixed to the exterior of one bar affording a sliding also engagmovement, excepting only rotation therebetween, is permitted, and screw means extending between the clamp and mounting adapted, when tightened, to advance the clamp with pressure against both bars and each bar against theother whereby to frictionally secure the two bars against movement.

3. In a curtain stretching frame including two crossing bars in contiguous engaging relation, a tting adjustably connecting the two contiguous bars atk their point of crossing comprising a mounting extended around one bar in a manner to be movablelengthwise thereof, a clamp offset to provide two bearing portions one in engagement with a corresponding face of each of the Vtwo contiguous bars, the mounting being formed with a slot through which the clamp is slidingly but non-rotatably extended at a point intermedi- Aate of its two bearing portions, means connecting the mounting and clamp, and a power device Aassociated withthe connecting means adapted to advance the clamp toward the mounting whereby to frictionally secure the two contiguous Ybars against movement.

YCLARENCE G. CARLSON. 

